Mounting block assembly for electrical interconnection between rail cars

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a rail car mounting block assembly for electrical interconnections between railway cars. The assembly comprises a housing having a threaded opening therethrough adapted to receive an electrical plug and electrical cable. The assembly has a securing mechanism for attaching the housing to a rail car and the housing has a receiving means for receiving a connector of a lanyard. The invention further provides for a lanyard having a plurality of loops for encompassing an electrical cable having electrical connectors at both ends. The lanyard also has connectors at both ends with one of the connectors attaching to one of the cable&#39;s electrical connectors and the other connector attaching to the receiving means of the housing. The invention further provides for a combination of the lanyard and the electrical cable.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a rail car mounting blockassembly for electrical interconnections between railway cars and to alanyard for receiving an electrical cable with the lanyard connecting tothe assembly. It also relates to the lanyard in combination with thecable.

[0002] Today's railroad trains are equipped with air brakes and thetrains' cars are provided with air brake pipes that terminate at the endof each rail car. The pipes have air hoses that connect to the pipes atthe end of each car and extend or hang between each car. The combinationof pipes and hoses carry compressed air to operate the brakes on eachcar. The flow of compressed air is controlled by valves mounted on thebrake pipes at each end of each car. The air hoses that hang from eachend-of-car brake pipe are joined between the cars by what is known as a“gladhand”. To prevent the hoses themselves and the gladhands fromswaying too much or to prevent them from touching the tracks, there havebeen field fixes comprised of wires or chains that are hooked orconnected to the gladhand and various parts of the rail car to attemptto prevent the air hoses from hitting the ground.

[0003] Likewise, freight trains may have electrical cables that also runalong each car and from car to car. The electrical cable connections arealso mounted at the end of each car (usually at junction boxes) andtheir cables have restraining wires and chains similar to those usedwith the air hoses. This results in additional wires and chains danglingfrom the end of each car and between the cars.

[0004] The air hose connection (the valve) at the end of each rail carand the electrical connection (the junction box) at the end of each carare not co-located. Attempts to restrain the hoses and cables betweencars has resulted in a hodgepodge of field solutions that have failed tosatisfactorily prevent cable and hose entanglements or damage or evenoutright breakage of the hoses, cables and connections.

[0005] The problem is compounded by the fact that the differing lengthsof the electrical cables used to connect the electrical system betweenrail cars has resulted in sporadic and ineffective field solutions torestrain and protect them. Thus, the number and types of restrainingropes, chains, wires, etc has proliferated, but not solved the problem.

[0006] Further compounding the problem is the situation where the airhoses and cables are on rail cars that are used for rotary dumping. Inthis mode, there is more of a tendency for the air hose and theelectrical cables to get tangled and twisted, resulting in theaforementioned damage to hoses, cables and connections and a potentiallyunsafe condition.

[0007] The present invention is designed for applicability to all typesof rail vehicles including transit, freight and highway/rail.

[0008] The present invention provides for a mounting block assembly forelectrical interconnections between rail cars. The mounting assemblycomprises a housing having a threaded opening therethrough adapted toreceive an electrical plug and electrical cable. The assembly has asecuring mechanism for attaching the housing to a rail car and thehousing also has a receiving means for receiving a connector of alanyard. The invention further provides for a lanyard having a pluralityof loops for receiving an electrical cable with electrical connectors atboth ends. The lanyard itself also has connectors at both ends with oneof those connectors attaching to one of the cable's electricalconnectors and the other connector attaching to the receiving means ofthe housing. The invention further provides for a combination of thelanyard and the electrical cable.

[0009] The mounting block assembly has four preferred embodiments thatrelate first, to the way the housing is structured and second, to theway the housing is attached to a rail car. In one embodiment, thehousing has an arcuate frictional surface formed as a portion of asurface of the housing wherein the securing mechanism can be a C-clamp.The C-clamp, which may or may not have an arcuate frictional surface,secures the housing to an air valve pipe or a connector or equivalentstructure in a position juxtaposed the arcuate frictional surface of thehousing. This preferred embodiment has two related versions wherein thehousing has its arcuate frictional surface formed as a portion of eitherthe top or the side surface of the housing and wherein the securingmechanism may be at least one U-bolt in either or both versions. Theleast one U-bolt secures the housing to the air valve pipe or connectoror equivalent structure juxtaposed the arcuate frictional surface of thehousing.

[0010] It should be noted that the housing for the above-referencedpreferred embodiments may have an arcuate surface that is not corrugatedor have other frictional surface attributes.

[0011] In a second preferred embodiment, the securing mechanism includesa plurality of bolts that secures the housing to a mounting plateadjacent a rail car's air valve located at the end of a rail car.

[0012] In a third preferred embodiment, the securing mechanism forsecuring the housing to a rail car includes making the housing and arail car's brake pipe air valve as a monolithic unit, such as casting,that is located and mounted at the end of a rail car.

[0013] For all preferred embodiments, the housing's means for receivingthe connector of a lanyard could, if desired, be a threaded eyebolt or asnap-pin and ring or equivalent securely attached through an opening inthe housing. The means could also be, if desired, a ring or equivalentreceiving means with the means and the housing made as a monolithicunit, by a method such as casting.

[0014] The mounting block assembly housing could, if desired, have asingle or a plurality of threaded tubes, nuts, bushings and sleeves toprovide support for an electrical cable and to provide a strain reliefmechanism for a connected electrical cable. The housing could also havea restraining device to prevent movement of an electrical plug that isthreadably inserted into the opening of the housing.

[0015] The opening of the housing can be threaded or not and can, ifdesired, be independent of a rail car's air hose or of its brake pipe.

[0016] The present invention further provides for a lanyard for anelectrical cable. The lanyard comprises a strap made of a continuouspiece of material of a fixed length having first and second ends. Thelanyard also has a plurality of loops, adapted for receiving the cable,the loops being located along the length of and extending outwardly fromthe strap. A first connector is attached at one end of the strap and asecond connector is attached at the other end of the strap.

[0017] The lanyard could, if desired, be made of a cloth of manmadefibers such as KEVLAR polypropylene, nylon and polyester. The loops can,if desired, be made of a cloth of man-made fibers such as KEVLAR,polypropylene, nylon and polyester. The loops can be of a fixedcircumferential length or the loops could be openable and made of, forinstance, hook and loop material or other adjustable mechanisms ormaterials such that the loop's circumference is fixed or adjustable. Theloops can, if desired, be attached to the strap by sewing, riveting,adhesive bonding, ultra sonic welding or other equivalent attachingmeans.

[0018] The lanyard's first connector can, if desired, be a threadedeyebolt, hook, clip, clasp, split ring, snap or equivalent for attachingto an electrical cable connector receptable. The lanyard's secondconnector could, if desired, be an open hook, split ring hook, crab-clawhook, snap-closing hook, or equivalent. The lanyard could, if desired,be capable of withstanding a pull of up to 500 pounds and shock force ofup to 1000 pounds.

[0019] The invention further provides for a lanyard in combination withan electrical cable comprising an electrical cable of a first lengthhaving first and second ends with first and second electrical connectorsattached at the first and second ends, respectively. The firstelectrical connector has a receptable for receiving a connector. Thelanyard is comprised of a strap of a second length having first andsecond ends with first and second connectors attached at those ends,respectively. The strap has a plurality of loops along the length of andextending outwardly from the strap wherein portions of the electricalcable are encompassed by the loops. The first connector is attached tothe receptable on the first electrical connector.

[0020] The lanyard can be further comprised, if desired, as previouslydescribed herein, regarding the material of the strap and loops, theattachment of the loops to the strap and the structure of the first andsecond connectors. Also, the first length (of the cable) can, ifdesired, be longer than the second length (of the strap). The lanyard,can, if desired, provide load relief when there is a pulling apart forcebetween train cars, thereby preventing stress on the first electricalconnector.

[0021] Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of the invention when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a mounting blockassembly where U-bolts extend through openings in the top surface of thehousing, according to the principles of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a mounting blockassembly where U-bolts extend through openings in the side surface ofthe housing, according to the principles of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a mounting blockassembly where a C-clamp is secured through openings in the side surfaceof the housing, according to the principles of the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a mounting block assembly housingshowing the assembled strain relief mechanism.

[0026]FIG. 4b is an exploded view of the strain relief mechanism.

[0027]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a mounting blockassembly housing, mounted on a mounting plate of a rail car, accordingto the principles of the current invention.

[0028]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting blockassembly housing and an air valve made as a monolithic unit, accordingto the principles of the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a lanyard, according to the principles ofthe present invention.

[0030]FIG. 8 is a plan view of a lanyard and electrical cable incombination, according to the principles of the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a lanyard and electrical cablemounted on an air valve that is to be mounted on the end of a rail car.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Generally, the mounting block assembly invention is comprised ofa housing having a threaded hole that receives an electrical plug andelectrical cable that is part of the electrical system that carries theelectricity and communications from rail car to rail car through amentire train. The assembly also has a receiving means, in the form of aring or hook, that is adapted to receive a connector such as a hook orclasp from a lanyard. The housing also has a securing means, which, inone embodiment, may be one or more U-bolts or a C-clamp that enable thehousing to be secured, for example, around and to an air valve pipe. Theair valve pipe, which is mounted at the end of each rail car, has an airhose connected to it. This combination of air valves and hoses on eachrail car carries the compressed air that operate the train's brakes.

[0033] In another embodiment, the housing can also be secured to the endof a rail car by mounting it to a mounting plate on the rail caradjacent to the air valve or in a further embodiment, by casting it asan integral part of the air valve itself.

[0034] The lanyard aspect of the invention comprises a strap of a fixedlength with a plurality of loops positioned along and extending from thestrap. The loops can be of fixed or adjustable circumferential lengthand are adapted to encompass the aforementioned electrical cable thatextends between rail cars. The lanyard has a connector at each of itsends, with one of those connectors attaching to the mounting blockhousing and the other attaching to a receptable in an electricalconnector at one end of the electrical cable.

[0035] Another part of the invention is the combination of the lanyardand the electrical cable. When the length of the lanyard's strap isshorter than the length of the electrical cable, the lanyard is able torestrain the cable's movement, reduce its swaying and its potential totangle or hit the ground. The combination also provides strain relieffor the electrical cable itself in case there is a pulling apart of thetrain's cars.

[0036] The embodiments of the mounting block assembly described hereinwill use the same reference numbers for common elements that have thesame function.

[0037] A particular embodiment of the mounting block assembly 100 isshown in FIG. 1. The housing 110 has as threaded opening 112 adapted tothreadably receive an electrical plug 114. An electrical cable 116 isattached to the plug 114 which is located in opening 112 and isprotected by the housing 110. The electrical cable 116 extends from therear of the housing 110 to a junction box on the rail car (not shown).The electrical plug 114 is adapted to receive the male end of anelectrical connector 524 that is integral to an electrical cable 520(see FIGS. 8 and 9)(the detailed connection of the plug and connector isnot shown). The connection of plug 114 and connector 524 are part of theelectrical interconnection between rail cars. The electrical plug 114 isheld securely in place by a restraining device, shown as a set screw172, inserted through the set screw opening 174 in the housing 110.

[0038] The housing 110 is secured to, for instance, a portion of a brakepipe air valve by a securing means. As shown in FIG. 1, the means mayinclude one or more U-bolts 128 through holes 140 in the top surface 122of the housing 110. The U-bolts 128 are secured to the housing 110 bywashers 130, lock washers 132 and nuts 134. The housing 110 may have anarcuate frictional surface 126 formed as part of the top surface 122 ofthe housing 110 to provide additional security through resistance to themovement of the housing 110 when it is secured to a portion of a brakepipe air valve 188. The housing 110 also has receiving means which couldbe an open or closed hook, bolt or ring and shown as an eyebolt 158adapted to receive a connector from a lanyard 400 (see also FIG. 7). Theeyebolt 158 is attached to the housing 110 by inserting the eyebolt 158through the bolt opening 160 on the front surface 118 of the housing 110and having it emerge through the rear surface 120 of the housing 110where it is secured by a bolt washer 162, bolt lock washers 164 and boltnut 166.

[0039] Another embodiment, mounting block assembly 100A, is shown asFIG. 2. This mounting block assembly, 110A, differs from mounting blockassembly 100 in FIG. 1 in that housing 110A is secured to, for instance,a portion of a brake pipe air valve (See FIG. 1) by U-bolts 128 throughholes 140 in the side surface 124 of the housing 110A. Anotherdifference is that housing 110A has an arcuate frictional surface 126formed as part of a side surface 124 of the housing 110A to provideadditional security through resistance to the movement of the housing110A when it is secured to a portion of the brake pipe air valve 188.Another difference is that the receiving means of housing 110A is a ring168 (or the “eye” portion of an eyebolt or equivalent) cast as anintegral part of the housing 110A.

[0040] Yet another embodiment, mounting block assembly 100B, is shown inFIG. 3. This mounting block assembly, 100B, differs from mounting blockassembly 110 in that housing 110B is secured to, for instance, a portionof a break pipe air valve via C-clamp 136. The C-clamp is secured byC-clamp bolts 138 and C-clamp washers 142 with the bolts 138 extendingthrough holes 141 in the C-clamp 136. The bolts 138 are threaded intoholes 140 in the side surface 124 of the housing 110B. The C-clamp 136has an arcuate frictional surface 144 to provide additional security forresistance to the movement of the housing 110B when it is secured to aportion of a break pipe air valve (see FIG. 1 for the air valve).Another difference is the receiving means, which in housing 110B is asnap-pin and ring 170 inserted through the bolt opening 160 in the frontsurface 118 of the housing 110B and exiting at the rear surface 120. Thesnap-pin spring tips 192 snap the pin and ring 170 securely into place.

[0041]FIGS. 4A and 4B show that each of the mounting block assemblyhousings 110, 110A, 110B may have a strain relief mechanism 1.94attached adjacent to the rear surface 120 of the housings 110, 110A,110B. A strain relief mechanism 194 may also be included on housings110C, 110D, (shown in FIGS. 5-6). The housings 110, 110A through 110Eare constructed such that the threaded opening 112 is of a size whichdoes not directly correlate with the standard size opening required fora strain relief mechanism 194. Consequently, a first threaded tube 176can be attached to the threaded opening 112 at the rear surface 120 ineach of the housings 110, 110A through E and secured in place via firsthex nut 178. This enables a strain relief mechanism 194 to be attachedto the housings. Alternatively, the housings could have a double-boredthreaded opening (not shown) to directly accommodate the strain reliefmechanism 194. The strain relief mechanism 194 protects the electricalcable 116 and may be comprised of a second threaded tube 180 that isthreadably inserted into the first threaded tube 176 and secured by asecond hex nut 184. The strain relief mechanism 194 may further comprisea rubber bushing 182 that is secured in place around the electricalcable 1.16 by a threaded sleeve 186, thereby providing the strain relieffor the electrical cable 116.

[0042] The arcuate frictional surfaces 126, 144 referred to above in theembodiments can, alternatively, be just arcuate surfaces having nocorrugations or equivalent frictional surface attributes (not shown).Moreover, the surfaces of the U-bolts can be frictional surfaces orsurfaces having no corrugations or equivalent frictional surfaceattributes (not shown).

[0043]FIG. 5 shows another embodiment, mounting block assembly housing110C, that is mounted on a mounting plate 150 adjacent an air valvemounted at the end of a rail car. The housing 110C is secured by fourwashers 152 and four bolts 148 that are inserted through the plate holes146 and into the holes 140 of the housing 110C. The plate 150 has anopening 117 to accommodate an electrical cable (not shown here, but seeFIG. 4a). Alternatively, the housing 110C may be mounted on a plate thatalso contains an air valve or it may be mounted on a plate adjacent tothe plate that contains an air valve.

[0044]FIG. 6 shows another embodiment, mounting block assembly 110D,where the housing 110D and an air valve 188 are a monolithic unit, made,for instance, by casting. Thus, the housing 110D is cast onto the airvalve 188 in such a way as to permit the handle 200 to be rotated in ahorizontal plane 202 so that a person's hand will clear the housing 110Dand the housing 110D will not interfere with the operation of the handle200 The location of the housing 110D is closer to the handle 200 than inthe mounted embodiments of FIGS. 1-5.

[0045]FIG. 7 shows a specially-designed lanyard 400 constructed toencompass an electrical cable 520 (See FIG. 8 for the cable). The lengthof the strap 420 of the lanyard 400 can be, preferably, shorter than thelength of the electrical cable 520. Thus, the lanyard 400 can preventstrain on the cable 520 if the rail cars separate. The separating forcerequired to separate the rail cars is less than the strength of thelanyard material and connections. FIG. 7 illustrates the lanyard 400which comprises a strap 420 of a fixed or adjustable length having afirst end 422 and a second end 424 with a first connector 426 at thefirst end 422 and a second connector 428 at the second end 424. Theadjustable length can be accomplished by the use of buckles (not shown)or other equivalent means. The connectors 426, 428 are shown as securedto the end of the straps by stitching, but other methods of attachmentmay be used. The lanyard 400 has a plurality of material loops 432,shown here as sewn to the strap 420 along the length of and extendingoutwardly from the strap 420. The material loops may also be riveted tothe strap 420 (see FIG. 8) or attached by other equivalent means.

[0046] The lanyard loops 432 in FIG. 7 and 434 in FIG. 8 prevent thecable 520 from getting tangled or hitting the ground. The strap 420 maybe made of a cloth of man-made fibers or made from one or more ofKEVLAR, polypropylene, nylon and polyester. The loops 432, 434 may bemade of a fixed length or may be made of a material that allows for anadjustable length. The first connector 426, which can be a closed oropen bolt, hook, or ring and is shown as a threaded eyebolt, connects toa receptable 526 (See FIG. 8) of an electrical cable 500 (See FIG. 8).The receptable 526 can be a threaded opening with a ring or can be aslot adapted to receive a connector or equivalent receiving device. Thesecond connector 428, which can be an open or closed hook or clasp orequivalent is shown as a snap-closing hook that connects to one of thereceiving mechanism 158, 168, 170 that can be used in any of thehousings 110, 110A-110D (shown in FIGS. 1-3, 5-7, 9, but not shown inFIGS. 7 and 8).

[0047]FIG. 8 shows a lanyard in combination with an electrical cable500. This combination 500 is comprised of an electrical cable 520 of afirst length 528 and a strap 420 of a second length 436. The secondlength 436 is preferably shorter than the first length 528. The strap420 has a plurality of loops 434, shown here as riveted to the strap420, that encompass portions of the electrical cable 520 to restrain andkeep the electrical cable 520 from getting tangled with other cables,hoses or wires and from dangling and hitting the ground. The strap 420also has a first connector 426, which can be a closed or open hook orring or equivalent and shown here as an eyebolt that is attached to areceptable 526. Strap 420 also has a second connector 430 which can be aclosed or open hook or clasp or equivalent, but is shown here as an openhook that is used to connect a lanyard strap 420 to a receiver 158, 168,170 (See FIGS. 1-3, 5-7, 9) of a housing 110, 110A-E (housing receiversare not shown in FIGS. 7 and 8). The electrical cable 520 has a firstelectrical connector 522 that connects to an “inter-car” electricalconnection (not shown but well-known in the art, see for example, U.S.Pat. No. 6,138,715) that is used for electrical connections between railcars. The second electrical connector 524 connects to the electricalplug 114 of a housing 110, 110A-D (see FIGS. 1-3, 5-7, 9).

[0048] The loops 432, 434 can be made of any type of adjustable materialsuch as hook and loop, but can also be made to be adjustable with theuse of a buckle or equivalent adjustable device. The loops 432, 434 canbe of a fixed length as well. When the loops are of a fixed length, theelectrical cable 520 must arrive for assembly with at least one if notboth of its connectors 522, 524 separated from the cable 520. Afterinserting the cable 520 without the connectors 522, 524 through theloops 432, 434, the connectors 522, 524 can be attached to the cable520. When the loops 432, 434 are made of adjustable material and can beopened partially or completely, then the electrical cable 520 can comewith its connectors 522, 524 attached. The electrical cable 520 can thenbe laid onto the open loops and the loops closed over the cable 520.

[0049]FIG. 9 illustrates the mounting of a lanyard and cable incombination 500 with the cable 520 encompassed by the lanyard's loops432, 434. It also shows the shorter length of the lanyard strap 436 incomparison with the longer length of the electrical cable 528 (See alsoFIG. 8). The electrical cables 520 are connected between cars by aninter-car electrical connection 198. The lanyard strap eyebolt connector158 is inserted into the receptable 526 on the electrical cable 520. Theother end of the strap 420 has its connector 430 attached to the eyebolt158 of the housing 110. The lanyard loops 432, 434 restrain theelectrical cable 520 and hold it in place. The mounting block assemblyhousing 110 is shown mounted to the air valve 188 which is connected tothe air hose 196. See also FIG. 1 for another view of how U-bolts 128secure the housing 110 to the air valve 188. The shorter length of thelanyard strap 436 prevents the electrical cable 528 from coming underundue tension should the train cars come apart. That is because the airhose connection 206 and inter-car electrical connector 198 will comeapart under less force than it takes to pull the lanyard strap 436 fromthe receptable 526 of the electrical connector 522.

[0050] It should be noted that any of the referenced securing mechanismsor means for receiving a connector may be used interchangeably on any orall of the embodiments described herein.

[0051] Although the present invention has been described and illustratedin detail it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way ofillustration and example only and is not to be taken by way oflimitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to belimited only by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. An end of car mounting block assembly for electricalinterconnections between rail cars, comprising: a housing having athreaded opening there through adapted to receive an electrical plug andelectrical cable; a securing mechanism for securing the assembly to therail car; and a means for receiving a connector of a lanyard.
 2. Themounting block assembly of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanismfurther comprises an arcuate frictional surface.
 3. The mounting blockassembly of claim 2, wherein the arcuate frictional surface is formed asa portion of a side surface of the housing.
 4. The mounting blockassembly of claim 3, wherein the securing mechanism includes a C-clamp.5. The mounting block assembly of claim 4, wherein the C-clamp includesan arcuate frictional surface.
 6. The mounting block assembly of claim5, wherein the C-clamp is attached to the housing in a positionjuxtaposed the arcuate frictional surface formed as a portion of a sidesurface of the housing.
 7. The mounting block assembly of claim 4,wherein the C-clamp is attached to the housing in a position juxtaposedthe arcuate functional surface formed as a portion of a side surface ofthe housing.
 8. The mounting block assembly of claim 2, wherein thesecuring mechanism includes a C-clamp.
 9. The mounting block assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the arcuate frictional surface is located on one ormore of the C-clamp and the housing.
 10. The mounting block assembly ofclaim 9, wherein the C-clamp is attached to the housing in a positionjuxtaposed the arcuate frictional surface of the housing.
 11. Themounting block assembly of claim 2, wherein the arcuate frictionalsurface is formed as a portion of a top surface of the housing.
 12. Themounting block assembly of claim 11, wherein the securing mechanism isat least one U-bolt.
 13. The mounting block assembly of claim 12,wherein the at least one U-bolt is attached to the housing in a positionjuxtaposed to the arcuate frictional surface formed as a portion of atop surface of the housing.
 14. The mounting block assembly of claim 2,wherein the arcuate frictional surface is formed as a portion of a sidesurface of the housing.
 15. The mounting block assembly of claim 14wherein the securing mechanism is at least one U-bolt.
 16. The mountingblock assembly of claim 15 wherein the at least one U-bolt is attachedto the housing in a position juxtaposed to the arcuate frictionalsurface formed as a portion of the side surface of the housing.
 17. Themounting block assembly of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanismincludes a plurality of bolts securing the housing to a mounting platelocated at the end of a rail car adjacent an air valve.
 18. The mountingblock assembly of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism includescasting the housing as an integral part of an air valve.
 19. Themounting block assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing furthercomprises a strain relief mechanism to prevent stress on the electricalplug and the electrical cable.
 20. The mounting block assembly of claim1, wherein the housing further comprises a restraining device to preventmovement of the electrical plug inside the housing.
 21. The mountingblock assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for receiving a connectoris selected from a group consisting of a threaded eyebolt attachedthrough a bolt opening in the housing, a snap-pin and ring attachedthrough a bolt opening in the housing and a ring that is cast as anintegral part of the housing.
 22. The mounting block assembly of claim1, wherein the threaded opening adapted to receive an electrical plugand an electrical cable is independent of an air hose or a brake pipeconnection.
 23. A lanyard for an electrical cable comprising: a strapmade of a piece of material having first and second ends; a plurality ofloops adapted for receiving the electrical cable located along thelength of and extending outwardly from the strap; a first connectorattached to the first end of the strap for attaching to a cableconnector; and, a second connector attached to the second end of thestrap for attaching to a receptacle.
 24. The lanyard of claim 23,wherein the strap is a cloth of man-made fibers.
 25. The lanyard ofclaim 23, wherein the strap is a cloth selected from the groupconsisting of KEVLAR, polypropylene, nylon and polyester.
 26. Thelanyard of claim 23, wherein the loops are adjustable to be able toalter the circumferential size of the loops.
 27. The lanyard of claim26, wherein the adjustable material is hook and loop material.
 28. Thelanyard of claim 23, wherein the loops are made to a fixed length. 29.The lanyard of claim 23, wherein the loops are made of a cloth ofmanmade fibers.
 30. The lanyard of claim 23, wherein the loops areattached to the strap by sewing.
 31. The lanyard of claim 23, whereinthe loops-are attached to the strap by rivets.
 32. The lanyard of claim23, wherein the first connector is selected from a group consisting ofan eyebolt, an open hook, a snap-closing hook and a crab-claw hook. 33.The lanyard of claim 23, wherein the second connector is selected from agroup consisting of an eyebolt, and open hook, a snap-closing hook and acrab claw hook.
 34. A lanyard in combination with an electrical cablecomprising: a cable of a first length having first and second ends withfirst and second electrical connectors attached at the first and secondends, respectively and wherein the first electrical connector has areceptacle; a lanyard comprising a strap of a second length having firstand second ends with first and second connectors attached at the firstand second ends, respectively, and wherein the strap has a plurality ofloops along the length of and extending outwardly from the strap; and,wherein portions of the electrical cable are encompassed by the loops ofthe lanyard with the first connector attached to the receptacle on thefirst electrical connector.
 35. The combination of claim 34, wherein thestrap is a cloth of man-made fibers.
 36. The combination of claim 34,wherein the strap is a cloth selected from a group consisting of KEVLAR,polypropylene, nylon and polyester.
 37. The combination of claim 34,wherein the loops are adjustable to be able to alter the circumferentialsize of the loops.
 38. The combination of claim 37, wherein theadjustable material is hook and loop material.
 39. The combination ofclaim 34, wherein the loops are made to a fixed circumferential length.40. The combination of claim 34, wherein the loops are made of a clothof manmade fibers.
 41. The combination of claim 34, wherein the firstconnector is selected from the group consisting of an eyebolt, an openhook, a snap-closing hook and a crab-claw hook.
 42. The combination ofclaim 34, wherein the second connector is selected from a groupconsisting of an eyebolt, an open hook, a snap-closing hook and acrab-claw hook.
 43. The combination of claim 34, wherein the secondlength is shorter than the first length.
 44. The combination of claim34, wherein the lanyard provides load relief to prevent stress on thefirst electrical connector when there is a pulling-apart force betweenrail cars.
 45. An end of car mounting block assembly for electricalinterconnections between rail cars, comprising: a housing having anopening there through adapted to receive an electrical plug and anelectrical cable; an arcuate surface located on one of more of a portionof a side-surface of the housing and a portion of a C-clamp; the C-clampbeing removably attached to the housing in a position juxtaposed thearcuate surface of the housing; and a means for receiving a connector ofa lanyard.
 46. An end of car mounting block assembly for electricalinterconnections between rail cars, comprising: a housing having anopening there through adapted to receive an electrical plug andelectrical cable; an arcuate surface formed as a portion of a topsurface of the housing; at least one U-bolt removably attached to thehousing in a position juxtaposed to the arcuate surface of the housing;and, a means for receiving a connector of a lanyard.
 47. An end of carmounting block assembly for electrical interconnections between railcars, comprising: a housing having an opening there through adapted toreceive an electrical plug and an electrical cable; a plurality of boltholes adapted for attaching the housing to a rail car; and, a means forreceiving a connector of a lanyard.
 48. An end of car mounting blockassembly for electrical interconnections between rail cars, comprising:a housing having an opening there through adapted to receive anelectrical plug and electrical cable; a means for receiving a connectorof a lanyard; and, wherein the housing and an air valve to be mounted atthe end of a brake pipe on a rail car are a monolithic unit.